Investing.com - The euro held steady against the U.S. dollar on Friday, after the release of tepid euro zone consumer price inflation and unemployment data, while investors eyed upcoming U.S. economic reports.
EUR/USD hit 1.3160 during European morning trade, the session low; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.3181, inching down 0.01%.
The pair was likely to find support at 1.3153, the low of August 27 and an 11-month low and resistance at 1.3243, the high of August 24.
Preliminary data showed that euro zone consumer price inflation ticked down to an annualized rate of 0.3% this month from 0.4% in July , in line with expectations.
Core consumer price inflation, which excludes food, energy, alcohol, and tobacco, rose to 0.9% in August compared to a year ealier, from 0.8% in July. Analysts had expected core CPI to remain unchanged this month.
A separate report showed that the euro zone's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 11.5% last month, in line with expectations.
Earlier Friday, official data showed that German retail sales declined 1.4% in July, disappointing expectations for a 0.1% rise, after a 1.0% gain in June, whose figure was revised from a previously estimated 1.3% advance.
The data added to concerns over the health of the euro zone's second biggest economy.
Meanwhile, demand for the dollar remained supported after a string of upbeat reports on Thursday's confirmed the view that the U.S. economic recovery is on track.
Preliminary data showed that the U.S. economy grew more than expected in the second quarter, while a separate report showed that the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits declined unexpectedly last week.
Investors were also focusing on developments in Ukraine after the nation's President Petro Poroshenko said Russian troops have "de facto" entered his country.
The United Nations Security Council was to hold an emergency meeting later Friday, while the U.S. said the U.S. said thay it has a "range of options" to help Ukraine.
The euro was fractionally lower against the pound, with EUR/GBP edging down 0.08% to 0.7941.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release a report on personal spending and revised data from the University of Michigan on consumer sentiment.